A Sneak Peek - {Mr. B}

Its been a while since I've photographed someone other than my own kids - outside of my Bella hospital babies. So, when my friend Julie said I could photograph her little boy, I jumped at the chance. He's just shy of 3 weeks old; so, older than I'm used to, but that's even better... it was an opportunity to work outside my comfort level. Shooting in someone else's home (I'd love to shoot in Julie's bright kitchen more often!), dealing with a 3 week old baby (trying to get him to sleep while my kids and Julie's older son played with toy fire trucks!), and trying more creative poses than Bella allows...

So, thanks again Julie for letting me photograph {B}. He was wonderful and so adorable. Here's one picture...you know I had to play before doing anything else tonight!!!

A Beautiful Family...

More often than not in the hospital, moms don't want to be photographed... if I think they are really up to it, I might give them a little push ("Let me take the photos, and if you don't like them, we delete them!"). Sometimes, I just drop it. Luckily, this dad told his wife, "You look cute" and so she decided to take pictures with her baby. Face it, moms... although we are the ones who spend most of the time with the baby, no one is going to be following you with a professional photographer to take pictures of your moments with baby. So, let me take the pictures now. You may regret it later, when you have no pictures of you with your newborn.

Anyway, I love the photos I got of this little family. So, I thought I'd share!!!

My Art & My Sister's Art...

Every member of my immediate family is an artist... Dad once drew an amazing picture of my mom with charcoals. It was so life-like that you'd think it was a photograph. AMAZING. Mom is a painter. She is one of the few people I know personally who can paint with any type of paint. I always thought watercolors were a child's toy, but my mom can actually paint with them - for real.

My siblings? Both brothers can draw a motorcycle to scale - complete with every part, pipe, switch and gleam of metal. Or they love to draw a mean skull. Basically they can draw minute detail... and both have, at times, been known to tattoo themselves or others... My youngest sister never fully developed her artistic ability, but was actually leaning toward poetry as a teenager.

So, that leaves my older sister and myself. I love to draw, but am I good? I don't know...for now I'll stick with my photography. My sister draws, paints, sculpts, etc... but give her some card stock, some ric rac and a stamp and its amazing. So, she did the invitations for my recent baby shower, as well as the decor, favors, etc.

Anyway, today I'm sharing my photographs of HER art... enjoy!

Cake pops made by my sister... sheet cake, crumbled up and mixed with frosting, then dipped in candy coating. Heaven!!! And SUPER CUTE, made to look like a baby rattle!

Hershey's miniature candy bars, just rewrapped by my sister. Cute!!

The favors... bags & labels handmade by Samara!

Samara's first attempt at a diaper cake! Can you believe she'd never done it before?!

THANK YOU!!!

Thanks to all who voted for which picture I should submit... it was pretty close, but #2 took the lead spot with 10 votes. Fortunately for me, each picture received a few votes... and it was really interesting to see which ones people preferred - and why!!

So, I'm emailing my submission now... will keep you posted (if I win... which I should... right?!).

The Best Of March '09 - Help me Choose!!

Every month, I submit my favorite photo for a contest held among the Bella Baby photographers. And each month, I am neither the first nor second place winner. In light of that fact, and now that we no longer have a monthly theme, I am having a heck of a time picking my potential winner... so I'm asking for help.

I have to submit my photo by midnight tomorrow, March 31. So, look through the pictures below and either email me or comment below... which would YOU submit?!

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7

Winter Returns... and {Mr. B}

Today I am working... a rare Sunday, a favor to someone who has covered a shift for me here & there (not to mention, has helped out with childcare for the last couple of months). I had no problem taking the shift...except that last night, we got 4" of snow!! I left my house 30 minutes earlier than normal and good thing I did... it took me longer than usual to get here, and I had to detour... thanks to this little mess...



In the end, it was worth it though. I had feared the worst... I'd drive all the way here and have no babies to photograph. Instead, I've photographed the cutest little bundle of joy and I'm waiting on another, and a set of twins.

So, while I wait...check out {Mr. B}. Mom & Dad were concerned he might not cooperate. But thanks to my magic basket, we did a little better than okay with his pictures.

Enjoying springtime...

Got out to enjoy the beautiful spring weather yesterday... here are a couple worth sharing.